If you’re looking for a list of Greek Orthodox saints, you’ve come to the right place. The Church has a lot of great people who have helped to make the world a better place. From the famous Dionysius the Areopagite to Saint Constantine XII, there’s something for everyone.
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St. Constantine XII
Saint Constantine XII is one of the saints of the Greek Orthodox Church. He ruled over the Roman Empire and was one of the most powerful emperors of Late Antiquity.
During his reign, Constantine made a number of important decisions that would lay the foundation for post-classical European civilization. Most notably, he built a new city in the East called Byzantium. In addition to his role as an emperor, he was also a pious king who gave considerable support to the Church.
Constantine’s conversion to Christianity was the result of a personal act of faith. This was a particularly significant step since the church was under threat from both heathen worship and magic. The emperor made it a priority to safeguard the rights of Christians to practice their religion.
St. Gregory III
The life and works of St. Gregory III make him one of the most important Greek Orthodox saints. In addition to his writings, he had a very active monastic life. He also helped foster missionary work in northern Europe.
Gregory was born in Cappadocia in central Asia Minor. His parents were saints, and his grandparents were also saints. He was the third child in a family of ten. But it wasn’t until he was twenty that his life changed.
Initially, Gregory was a teacher. He began studying Greek philosophy. At this time, philosophy was primarily associated with pagan beliefs.
St. Damasus
When a young man named Damasus was growing up in Rome, Constantine I ruled the Western Roman Empire. This era was marked by civil war, the persecution of Christians, and the establishment of the See in Constantinople. However, the emperor was willing to accept Christianity, thereby creating a socially acceptable environment for converting upper class people.
Later, Gratian abolished the privileges of pontiffs. He forbade legacies to vestals, removed the Altar of Victory from the Senate of Rome, and forbade the use of the pontifex maximus insignia. The result was a crisis that led to civil war.
St. Epiphanios
Epiphanios is one of the Greek Orthodox saints, and is considered the father of almost all of the bishops in the Church. His name means “the Lord is exalted.” The saint’s feast day is celebrated every year on 14/06, 56 days after Greek Orthodox Easter.
Saint Epiphanios was born a Jew in Palestine. He lived a life of piety and traveled throughout Egypt as a monk. After his death in the eighth or early ninth century, he was buried in Kallistratos monastery in Constantinople.
In the early years of his life, Epiphanius was among the Egyptian monks. During this time, he became a friend of St. Jerome and wrote letters to him. They eventually started an alliance.
St. Leo II
The Greek Orthodox saint, Leo II, is a gentle man who defended the faith of his time. He was born in Rome and fought against heresies. A prolific writer, Leo wrote over 140 letters. He also wrote over 90 sermons. During his tenure, he was one of the greatest bishops.
His edict condemning Pope Honorius I, who was a monophysite schism, was confirmed by Saint Leo. Despite his modesty, he was also very concerned with church music.
Although his life was brief, St. Damasus played an important role in the development of the Latin Bible. He also helped the persecuted, and was a great patron of Roman martyrs.
St. Anacletus
St Anacletus on the list of Greek orthodox saints was born in Athens, Greece. His name means “anencletus” or blameless. He became a monk at the age of seventeen.
In later life, he lived without possessions and preached in sermons and writings about Orthodoxy. Some writers claim that he was a Greek philosopher, while others suggest that he was a slave. The fact that he was buried alive and that his tongue was cut off does not help the case.
While in Alexandria, Egypt, he was persecuted by the Arians, a group that disputed the teachings of the Church. It is believed that he wrote several tracts in hiding, which gathered the Christians of Christendom into the cause of the Orthodox faith.
St. Dionysius the Areopagite
Saint Dionysius the Areopagite is an ancient Greek Orthodox saint. His name means “the god of wine”. He was one of the many early Christians who were martyred in Greece. The first bishop of Athens, he was a member of the Athenian court on Mars Hill. He was married and had several children. When he died, his deacons, Gaius and Faustus, were with him.
St. Dionysius was the son of a pagan priest. He had been studying in Egypt at the time of Christ’s death and crucifixion. During his studies, he had seen the sky darken for three hours. After seeing this, he decided to devote his life to the Christian faith. Upon returning to Athens, he married and had a family. Afterward, he was known to be a great teacher.